3.3 Significance of the Area: Ecological, Socio-Economic, or Scientific Criteria
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Marine Environment Protection Committee - MEPC.1/Circular.510 – Guidance Document for Submission of PSSA Proposals to IMO – (10 May 2006) - Annex – Guidance Document for Submission of PSSA Proposals to IMO - 3 Required Elements for a PSSA Application - 3.3 Significance of the Area: Ecological, Socio-Economic, or Scientific Criteria

3.3 Significance of the Area: Ecological, Socio-Economic, or Scientific Criteria

  3.3.1 An area being proposed for PSSA identification must satisfy one or more of the economic, socio-economic, or scientific criteria and information and supporting documentation should be provided to support that at least one criterion exists throughout the proposed area, although the same criterion need not be present throughout the entire area.

  3.3.2 Proposing Member Governments should review the section of the PSSA Guidelines for a complete description of each criterion; however, the titles of the criteria are as follows:

  • .1 Ecological criteria

    • .1 Uniqueness or rarity

    • .2 Critical habitat

    • .3 Dependency

    • .4 Representativeness

    • .5 Diversity

    • .6 Productivity

    • .7 Spawning or breeding grounds

    • .8 Naturalness

    • .9 Integrity

    • .10 Fragility

    • .11 Bio-geographic importance

  • .2 Social, cultural and economic criteria

    • .1 Social or economic dependency

    • .2 Human dependency

    • .3 Cultural heritage

  • .3 Scientific and educational criteria

    • .1 Research

    • .2 Baseline for monitoring studies

    • .3 Education

Parent topic: 3 Required Elements for a PSSA Application
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